Teens Making a Difference

Our teen volunteers went the extra mile this past weekend to help out Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's local conservation partner, Pinello Ranch. Pinello Ranch, located just north of Venetucci Farm, "serves as an oasis for wildlife along Fountain Creek." The property is surrounded by an urban landscape but is made up of pristine wetland environment making it a valuable habitat for birds, deer, and aquatic life.

Our teen volunteers signed up to spend their Saturday helping install trail markers for future birding tours and clean up over 150 gallons of trash along the Fountain Creek Watershed. In return they were able to explore the wonders of this magical environment.

Interested in helping this local champion? Look for the little yellow bird and vote for Pinello Ranch at the Quarters for Conservation Booth at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Best, Meg

From July 20 through July 29, I had an amazing opportunity to spend time in Belize, Central America, through my master’s program, the Global Field Program.  This program, through Miami University in Ohio, includes three Earth Expedition trips such as this, each focused on specific ecology and conservation issues.

Manatee Photo from Sea to Shore Alliance.

The trip to Belize was focused on four main topics: Inquiry, Community-Based Conservation, Ecology of Manatees, and Ecology of Coral Reefs.  My 22 classmates and I travelled all around Belize, immersing ourselves in the rain forest and ocean, meeting the people of Belize (such rich cultures!), and getting to know the country’s conservation efforts.  I experienced so much on this trip, but what I would really like to share is my experience with manatees.  Before we left, I wrote a paper about zoos and manatees, and during the trip, I constantly turned my thoughts back to the question carried posed in that paper: “How can Cheyenne Mountain Zoo get involved with manatee conservation?”

Looking out for the manatees

On July 24^th, we travelled to Belize City to meet Nicole Auil Gomez and Jamal Galves, experts working with the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (http://www.coastalzonebelize.org/), and the Sea to Shore Alliance (http://public.sea2shore.org/home).  Nicole briefed us in the classroom on manatee taxonomy as well as management and conservation, and the research projects she and Jamal are involved in.  Jamal has just received some grant funding to help further his research in tracking manatees and working with local people to manage no wake zones and strandings (manatees that are found near the shore, usually injured or dead).

Meg with Jamal Galves

 After the classroom session, Jamal took us out on the boat to help him with his research!  We started at the mouth of the Belize River, where the water flows into the Caribbean Sea, counting the number of noses that came up as manatees rose to the surface for air.  We also took measurements of temperature (air and water), salinity, and particulates, as well as collected sea grass and even manatee poop!

Telemetry belt around the peduncle of a manatee
Photo from Sea to Shore Alliance

Tuning into the frequency.

For me, the best part of this experience by far was using telemetry to track the manatees. Manatees captured by Jamal and Nicole’s team each receive an individual health assessment and a skin sample from the tail is taken for genetic research.  Then, a radio tracking device is belted on the manatee at the narrowest part of the body, near the tail.  The tracker is buoyed on a line about six feet long and it only sends a signal when it comes up above the water.  It also has a quick release so the manatee can get free if it gets caught on something.  Each radio tracker sends out a different signal so Jamal can keep track of each individual animal.  This process allowed us to track and spot manatees, as well as conduct behavioral research.

Manatee mom and baby, photo courtesy
of Sea to Shore Alliance board member,
Jimmy White.

As I mentioned, I kept thinking “How can Cheyenne Mountain Zoo get involved with manatee conservation?”  We do not have manatees at CMZ; in fact there are only five zoos in the country that do have them.  But does that mean we can’t help make a difference?  I will be pondering this more and you will hear from me again as I start to formulate some ideas.  If you have one, I would love to hear it!  Just send me an email at mmcdaniel@cmzoo.org.

Best,

Meg

Meg McDaniel is the Academic Programs Manager her at CMZ.

America, how do you really feel about the ocean?

Today is World Oceans Day, a day when people around the globe come together to celebrate our ocean and take action to protect it. And with good cause! The ocean not only makes our world livable, it provides us with food, water, commerce, recreation, and medicine. The ocean has suffered some serious blows lately: 90% of the big fish in the sea are gone, the gyres are filled with more plastic than previously estimated, the Deepwater Horizon disaster dumped 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, and coastal dead zones from agricultural runoff are worse than ever.

The ocean has definitely seen rough times lately, and World Oceans Day is a good opportunity to rally and start turning things around.

Most Americans would probably tell you that they support a healthy ocean—after all, the beach is one of our all-time favorite vacation spots. But how does the Nation as a whole feel about protecting the ocean?  The Ocean Project’s ongoing survey of more than 30,000 Americans, both young and old confirm our gut feeling that Americans care about healthy oceans; and has further insight on what Americans think and feel about ocean conservation.

We don’t realize the ocean is in danger

Most Americans think that the ocean is healthy and “too vast” for individual action to have an impact. (The exception to this is in the wake of catastrophic events such as the Deep Water Horizon disaster – see below). In fact, the American public believes that ocean waters bordering the US are significantly less imperiled than are “foreign” waters.

We have short attention span

In the wake of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the American public was very concerned about the health of the ocean, believing it to be threatened. But in a few short months (by Aug 2010 – four months after initial explosion), the level of concern was on the decline. See The Ocean Project’s April 2011 blog post for more details.

We feel powerless to affect ocean & environmental issues

‘My actions have little impact on ocean health.’ is the general sentiment when respondents are asked ‘In your opinion, how much of an impact can individual people have on solving our environmental problems?’. Even more troubling:  40% responded ‘None” or – “Not very much.’

On the bright side, we’re the sort of people who care!

We think we’re green

In 2010, 22% considered themselves to be active in the environmental movement, and 57% said they were sympathetic but not active.

We’ll change our buying habits to protect ocean health

The American public expressed strong support for a willingness to change their seafood habits to protect and/or preserve an endangered species

The children are indeed our future

Young people were the most knowledgeable about environmental & ocean issues, and parents look to them for guidance when making green household decision-making. They also were overwhelmingly more likely to believe that the actions of individuals can make a difference!

It’s time to transform that concern and “green-friendliness” into action! Let us come together this June 8^th and take action for our world ocean. There are hundreds of events being held all over the world, find one near you and celebrate with a purpose this World Oceans Day!  Or organize an event yourself! Go to www.theoceanproject.orgfor ideas, free materials, and event listing.

Blog provided by WorldOceansDay.org 

Quarters for Conservation

Cheyenne Mountain zoo is one of only 10 zoos in the U.S. currently participating in the Quarters for Conservation (Q4C) program. There are also 10 zoos hoping to begin participating very soon.  

The Q4C idea was started by Zoo Boise, but was taken to the next level here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo with on-site voting, fours year ago. The program raises funds by contributing $.25 of every zoo admission and a portion of memberships to conservation work around the globe. Half is allocated to ongoing flagship conservation projects like the black-footed ferret, Mexican gray wolf, and Wyoming toad breeding programs, and the other half is divided between six select conservation programs based on your votes.

 The selection process for the year’s featured animals begins with zoo employees submitting a proposal to champion a program. A Q4C committee, consisting of staff members from various departments, reviews the proposals based on strict criteria and selects just six programs. At the end of the year a percentage of the funds for the six programs is allocated based on your voting using a special token when you visit the zoo. Every visit and every vote counts.  

Here are the most recent Q4C Programs:

-         Protecting wild African vultures

-         Rescuing amphibians in Panama

-         Raising and Protecting wild African penguins

-         Releasing endangered gibbons back to the wild

-         Saving wild Amur leopards and tigers

-         Protecting wild orangutans and their forest habitat

Since 2008, Q4C has raised over $400,000. You’re changing the world one quarter at a time! Click here to learn more about each of the projects listed above.

 

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Celebrates Earth Day All April Long!

By: Kellie McGregor, CMZ Outreach Coordinator & Earth Month Committee Member

In March and April, nature awakes from its deep sleep to enjoy the warmer temperatures. Have you noticed the flowers and grass beginning to peer out from their winter hiding spots? Even the animals at the zoo are enjoying the sun. Just yesterday, one of our Amur tigers was playfully savoring a dip in the water of his exhibit. It’s as if nature is rejoicing the coming of spring. That’s why it’s fitting we are celebrating, too! This April, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is teaming up with Pikes Peak Earth Day, and other businesses and non-profits to celebrate Mother Earth the entire month.


To start things off, we’re throwing a party! The Pikes Peak Earth Month Kickoff Party jumpstarts the month of festivities on April 1, 2012, at Stargazers Theatre in Colorado Springs from 5:30pm to 9:00pm. It’s going to be a night of sustainability, conservation, and fun! Enjoy music, food, and drinks supplied by companies that care about our Earth. Even better, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Zoo On The Move and Quarters for Conservation projects will be there with live animals, and information on how you can protect wild animals and wild places. Guests will also have the chance to make a pledge to make a change in their lives to better the environment through our new pledge program.


Being a part of the Pikes Peak Earth Day committee and the Pikes Peak Earth Month Kickoff Party is especially important to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo because protecting our planet is something we strive to do all year long. In addition to providing up close experiences with animals, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo implemented the Quarters for Conservation program - $0.25 of each admission is allocated to conservation efforts around the world. In an effort to reduce waste, we’ve also begun a composting program. We know that in order to protect our amazing animals and habitats they live in, we must be good stewards of the planet.


We are challenging you to be good stewards of our planet, too. Check our calendar for Earth Month activities at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo or the Pikes Peak Earth Day website for happenings throughout Colorado Springs, then join us at the Pikes Peak Earth Month Kickoff Party on April 1 and pledge to make a change.

Leap Day the Frog Way

The real purpose of leap day may be to keep the calendar aligned with the seasons, but here at the rescue project, we’d like to believe the day is designed to honor our favorite leapers. To celebrate, we’ve put together some fun facts about frog leaping.

•       Not all frogs can leap, or even hop. The desert rain frog (Breviceps macrops) has legs that are too short to hop. Instead, it walks.
•            Male frogs of the genus Pipa are known to defend their territory by jumping at and then wrestling other males.
•          The New Guinea bush frog (Asterophrys turpicola) takes jump attacks one step further: before it jumps at a strange frog, it inflates itself and shows off its blue tongue.
   ·      Stumpffia tridactyla are normally slow-moving critters, but when they’re startled they can abruptly jump up to 8 inches. That doesn’t sound very far, but these little guys are less than half an inch long!
   ·      The Fuji tree frog (Platymantis vitiensis) may be the leaping stuntman of the frog world. Each time it leaps, it twists in the air—sometimes even 180 degrees—to throw predators off its trail.
   ·      The Larut torrent frog (Amolops larutensis) gets its name from a nifty leaping trick: it can jump into a fast-moving stream and back to its usual perch, the underside of a rock, without being affected by the current.
   ·      Similarly, the parachuting red-eyed leaf frog (Agalychnis saltator) gets its name because it speeds to mating opportunities by jumping from trees with finger-and toe-webbing spread wide.
   ·      The record for longest jump by an American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) recorded in a scientific paper is a little over 4 feet. But scientists who went to the Calaveras County Fair, which Mark Twain’s short story made famous for frog jumping, found that more than half the competitors bested that record—and one jumped more than 7 feet in one leap!
   ·      The Guinness Book of World Records doesn’t include any frogs for their leaping ability. But it does track human performance in frog jumping (jumping while holding one’s toes). There are records listed for the longest frog jump and the fastest frog jumping over 10 and 100 meters.
  
  
  In honor of leap day celebrations being coordinated globally by Amphibian Ark, the Panama Amphibian 
  Rescue and Conservation Project made this video for a frog song written by Alex Culbreth.
  
  

Post by Meghan Bartels, Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project 

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part IX: Breeding Season

Bunting’s kits are now at the 55 day mark.  At this stage they have the adult color pattern, but still have a juvenile appearance. This period is critical as it is when they get their first canine distemper vaccination.  Canine distemper is one of the diseases that nearly brought the black footed ferrets (BFFs) to extinction.  A special recombinant canine distemper vaccine was developed for BFFs as well as the domestic ferret. 

Bunting’s kit getting it’s first

canine distemper vaccination at

55 days of age.

The catch cage is always used now whenever they need to be examined or restrained along with thick leather bite gloves to block their escape from the catch cage. Roughly seven days from the distemper vaccination or at around 62 days old, they are anesthetized for a physical examination by one of our veterinarians.  They look for any possible abnormalities and implant a microchip under the skin for permanent identification.  

Bunting’s kit under gas anesthesia

for exam and microchip implant at

65 days of age.

Half inch long microchip

used to permanently ID the BFFs.

The microchip provides a 9 digit number

that is unique to that particular individual.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part VIII: Breeding Season

Bunting’s kits are now growing very fast.  They are still nursing, but are mostly eating specially developed ground meat and rodents.  They are also busy playing which is important for them to strengthen and develop their motor skills. 

They are now venturing into the black tube that leads from their nestbox to the upper enclosure.  This makes getting a visual or catching the ferret to weigh extremely challenging.  They are not yet at the biting age, but very soon we will need to wear thick leather gloves to protect our hands. Since this is a reintroduction program, it is important for the kits to remain wary of humans.  Talking is kept to a minimum and handling is only done when absolutely necessary.  Once old enough, a catch cage will be used as they are too feisty and strong to hold otherwise. 

Bunting’s kits at 40 days old

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part VII: Breeding Season

Black-footed ferret (BFF) kits grow very fast.  At birth they can weigh as little as 5 grams, the same weight of a US nickel! The nest box is cleaned once at 4 days old and then a daily cleaning of the nest box resumes when the kits are 9 days old. The dams are very reluctant to leave their kits, so we usually clean them right before feeding time. The meat ball sometimes entices the dam to go to the upper enclosure long enough to close the shift slider of the nest box. We quickly clean the latrine side of the nest box.  Take a quick peek at the kits on the nest side and then let the dams back to their kits.  This allows us the opportunity to check on the kits and make sure they are looking good.

Bunting’s litter at 4 days of age.

Bunting’s litter at 9 days of age.

While Bunting’s litter continues to grow, other expectant females are due.  Over the next several weeks more litters are born.  Of the 11 SSP females 7 whelped, including the female that was given hormones to ovulate. It is extremely rare for this to be successful.  We also had 2 additional litters that belong to two 5 year olds which is also not common.  In total we had 34 kits born! This is currently a record number of BFF births for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  For reasons unknown, we had 6 kits that did not make it past their first day (including two of Bunting’s litter).  However, the remaining 28 kits continue to thrive.

Bunting’s kits have reached the 21 day mark.  This is when we determine the sex of the kits and begin to weigh them weekly. All 4 of them are BOYS! Their weights range from 124-130 grams which is above average for 21 day old males.  At 23 days of age they are introduced to small carnivore meat.  Their eyes are still not opened, but they do have deciduous “baby” teeth.  They often do not eat the first few days, but are observed smelling the meat.

Bunting’s kits being introduced

to meat at 23 days of age.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part VI: Breeding Season

After 72 hours of being together, the black-footed ferret (BFF) female is separated from the male and she is returned to her enclosure.  Four days after separation, she is given her final vaginal flush for the year.  This check is to see if she has been induced to ovulate.  If she has, then her epithelial cells will look as they did at the beginning of her estrus cycle, obvious nuclei and very few cells with orange stain.  If she has not ovulated then they will look as they did before pairing, no nuclei and many orange keratinized cells. The female is re-paired immediately with a male if she has not ovulated and will sometimes be given hormones if she will not ovulate after a few pairings.  Once ovulation occurs, the females are disturbed as little as possible. 

           

The gestation or pregnancy period for BFFs is 42 days.  The diet is increased every two weeks and is almost doubled by the time she is due.  An infra-red video camera is installed on the nest box and we wait with anticipation for the kits to be born. BFF gestation period is almost like clockwork.  Most of our births occur right on the 42nd day and even near the time when the male and female were put together for breeding.  If we paired them in the morning, then the kits will usually be born in the morning.  If we paired them later in the day, then they will be born later that evening.  Since we have numerous female BFFs, a whelping calendar is created so we can keep track of all the due dates. 

For 2011, 11 SSP females were paired and 4 additional females that were non-releasable but over the age of four.  The additional 4 older females are not included in our primary breeding numbers as they are not as likely to produce kits.   One of our SSP females did not ovulate after 2 breeding attempts so she was given a hormone injection which did cause her to finally ovulate.   The remaining females that were bred and ovulated had no other issues during their gestation periods.

           

Bunting’s 4 healthy kits on camera while 

she is away getting a drink of water. 

Our first due date was on May 21st and our last was on June 22nd. On May 21st a litter of 6 kits were born!!!  Bunting Studbook #6376 is the dam (mother).  She came to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in 2009 as a one year old and unfortunately did not produce kits in 2010.  This year, however she proved otherwise.  For reasons unknown, only 4 of the kits visible on the camera were moving.  As we do not want to jeopardize the well being of the entire litter, we generally do not interfere and let the dams take care of the deceased kits as nature would intend. The four remaining kits looked as healthy as ever and now Bunting has a lot of work ahead of her as a new mom. 

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part V: Breeding Season

The female black-footed ferrets (BFFs) come into estrus starting around March. They are checked weekly for signs of vulvar swelling. Once they are at a certain size, then vaginal washes are conducted. This allows for us to look at the epithelial cells to determine when she is at peak estrus. Samples are collected twice per week until she is ready for breeding.

The slides are stained using the Pap staining technique, which causes the cells to be different colors according to the level of estrus. In the early stages, the cells are round and have a very apparent nucleus. When she is near peak estrus, then the cells become more jagged, turn orange, and don’t have a nucleus. Once the female has 90% of the orange keratinized cells, then she is almost ready for breeding.

Peak Estrus

Early Estrus

An average years number of slides

The female is usually given 5-7 days to allow her to be at full estrus and then she is paired with a male. The males are selected using a Mate Suitability Index 1-6 (1 being excellent and 6 being very bad). This number comes from the inbreeding coefficient, mean kinship, and other genetic values of both animals. It is at this time when things start to get a little tricky. Our female is now ready, but what about the male? Is his sperm count above the 250 million per milliliter? Is he currently paired with a different female? Luckily our studbook keeper and genetic advisor have given optional backup pairing suggestions for when problems like this may occur, or if the male is busy being paired with a different female.

Once all is ready, the female is placed in the male’s enclosure. A camera is placed on the nest box to watch for breeding activity. These are normally solitary animals and if they are placed together at the wrong time, then one of them might be very aggressive toward the other. Usually our science has led us to the correct timing and the breeding goes smoothly. After about 30 minutes, the female is removed to do a vaginal wash. She is placed back quickly and the breeding continues. This wash is to check and see if there is sperm present. The challenge of this check is that there are often only a few sperm that are usually missing tails and there are a lot of other cells on the slide. It is almost like playing Where’s Waldo, but looking for a single sperm head. This can sometimes take over an hour of constant searching on the microscope. If there is no sperm found, then the female is re-paired but with a different male.

Power 10

Power 40

Digital Picture zoomed: a single sperm head

This step is important because BFFs females are induced ovulators. This means that the process of breeding will cause her to ovulate regardless of if there are sperm present. BFFs only come into estrus one time per year so if she ovulates and there are no sperm, then she may become pseudo pregnant. The female will then show all the signs of pregnancy and can even have a false birth and lactate, but no litter is produced. If this happens, then we have to wait an entire year before she can be bred again. BFFs are reproductive from the age of 1-4 for females. They only have 4 chances to reproduce, so we must make each year count.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part IV: Beginning of Breeding Season

Due to the Black-Footed Ferrets (BFFs) having a small founding population, it is important to maintain genetic diversity as much as possible. In order to do this, BFFs must be moved between breeding facilities so we are not repeatedly breeding the same pairs of ferrets year after year. The BFF Species Survival Plan (SSP) has a genetic advisor and studbook keeper, both use a computer program to decide what animals should be paired. Once these recommendations are made, the animals are transferred as needed. In order to reduce stress, we try to do as few transfers as possible. It also seems that some animals have better production if they are able to stay at the original facility they were raised at. However, we must do transfers to benefit the species in the long run. Most BFFs settle down fairly quickly due to all the breeding facilities having a similar setup and routine.

The lighting in the BFF room is a crucial factor for breeding success. The intensity is measured in foot-candles at each enclosure. Day length is also changed according to the time of year. Being from the Great Plains, their lighting needs are similar to our natural light cycle here in Colorado. However, we do adjust it each month going from 8 hours of light from Oct-Dec and increasing one hour each month until May. The increasing day length signals the BFFs to prepare for breeding season.

Male BFFs begin to show breeding readiness slightly earlier than the females. In late December, the testes start to enlarge and sperm production kicks into full gear. They are checked weekly for signs that they are coming into season. This is to ensure that they have sperm ready for when the females come into season later on. As a result of the genetic bottle neck, the sperm quantity and quality is decreased from what normal animals had in the wild prior to the bottleneck. In order to optimize breeding success, we conduct sperm concentration counts to make sure the males are at their prime breeding readiness. The males BFFs are anesthetized for the procedure and semen is collected. The samples that are collected are then loaded into a hemocytometer for counting under the microscope.


a) On each side of the hemocytometer is a square grid that contains 9 squares.


b) Only the 4 outside corners are counted, but on each side of the hemocytometer.


c) There is an even smaller grid within the grid on each side. In each corner, there
are 16 squares.



d) Each square is looked at and the sperm are counted in each of the 64 squares with
the average taken between the two sides. That number is then placed into an
equation to get the total concentration for the volume of semen collected.

Our goal is for the male to have above 250 million sperm per milliliter of semen. If the male is above the goal, then he can be used for breeding. If he is under, then he can be given a few more weeks and tested again. However, if the male is needed for a pairing before he is ready then he will be used if there are no other males available.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part III: Morning Duties

Black-footed ferrets (BFFs) are extremely susceptible to disease, so their home in Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Conservation Center is under strict quarantine. It takes a lot of work to keep up. For example, zookeepers shower before dressing in special clothes and shoes, which are worn only when caring for the ferrets. Latex gloves and face masks are also worn since BFFs, like the domestic ferret, can catch the human flu. These measures are important in preventing catastrophic events such as the plague and distemper outbreak that caused their original brush with extinction.

BFFs are solitary animals. Inside the Conservation Center, each BFF has their own upper enclosure with a tube leading down to a nest box, or burrow. The tube mimics a prairie dog tunnel. Mornings consist of cleaning and checking the health of each BFF. First, each BFF is moved from its upper enclosure to its lower nest box, and the upper enclosure is wiped down with a disinfectant. Next, the BFF is shifted out of their lower nest box to clean and disinfect the latrine side. Cleanliness is key for the BFFs, so each enclosure has its own cleaning supplies and nothing is ever used twice. After disinfecting the enclosure, clean Alpha-dri bedding is put down, which is a special compressed, highly-absorbent shredded paper. Multiply this process by 25 ferrets and you have a busy morning!

After about two hours, the BFFs are all back to sleep in their freshly cleaned nest boxes. We try to limit our time in the room as they are nocturnal, but go back in near the end of the day to feed and check on them. The BFFs get ground meat especially prepared for small zoo carnivores, and twice a week, a rodent. The bones from the rodents help keep their teeth clean and healthy. Since we are part of a reintroduction program, it is very important for their teeth to be in good health for hunting in the wild.



This breeding season (2011), we have nine males and 11 females. In addition, we care for five older BFFs unable to be released. They will eventually travel to other zoos or education facilities.

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret’s Rediscovery - Part II: History

Zookeepers watch cameras through this window in Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Conservation Center to monitor breeding and births.

The only ferret native to North America, the black-footed ferret once thrived across grass prairies from Canada to Mexico. Today, it’s one of the most endangered mammals in North America.

Our story begins with prairie dogs, the primary food source of ferrets. During the early 1900s, much of North American prairies were converted into farmland. Because prairie dogs were considered pests, they were poisoned. Around the same time, the accidental introduction of the bacterium that causes sylvatic plague, along with the loss of prairie dog habitat, led to the black-footed ferret’s drastic decline. The last black-footed ferret in Colorado was seen near Buena Vista in 1943, and by the 1950s, it was believed very few remained in the U.S. In the mid-1970s, biologists thought they were extinct.

On September 26, 1981, in Meeteetse, Wyoming, a rancher and his dog came across a wild ferret. This led biologists to the discovery of a new black-footed ferret population. Since the species is nocturnal and fossorial (meaning they live underground), very little was known about their natural history. Over the next four years, biologists gathered new information on the life and behavior of this elusive species. Unfortunately, in 1985, outbreaks of both sylvatic plague and canine distemper killed nearly the entire Meeteetse population. After six trapped black-footed ferrets died of canine distemper, the decision was made to bring additional animals into captivity. To safeguard the species, a total of 18 black-footed ferrets were trapped between 1985 and 1987. In 1986, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Wyoming Game and Fish, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums initiated a captive breeding program for the black-footed ferrets.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of only five zoos in the world breeding black-footed ferrets. Since 1990, we’ve produced 379 kits, and sent 187 black-footed ferrets to the USFWS’s National Black-Footed Ferret Breeding and Conservation Center in northern Colorado for preconditioning and release into the wild. Other participating zoos include Louisville Zoo in Kentucky, National Zoo’s Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia, Phoenix Zoo in Arizona, and Toronto Zoo in Canada.

We’re expecting this year’s first litter of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo kits soon. Be sure to check back for updates!

Because black-footed ferrets are susceptible to common diseases and don't tolerate noise very well, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's Conservation Center is closed to the public.

GIVE YOUNG WILDLIFE THE SPACE IT NEEDS

A story from the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Spring has arrived in Colorado and it won't be long before newly born wildlife take their first awkward steps, sometimes near watchful people. The Colorado Division of Wildlife is reminding the public that the well-intentioned impulse to save what appears to be an orphaned or abandoned animal can often lead to unintended consequences, including the death of the animal.

For many people, a common reaction when they see young wildlife that appears to be abandoned is to treat it as they would a human baby and attempt its rescue. Giving human characteristics to animals is known as anthropomorphism. The concept is often seen in popular children's books and movies. Division officials warn that projecting human behavior onto young wildlife often does more harm than good.

"A human baby that has been abandoned is a crisis that needs immediate attention, but this is not the case with baby animals," said Watchable Wildlife and Volunteer Coordinator Trina Romero. "In fact, the instinct that leads a female animal to leave its offspring alone for long periods of time is a natural method of protection. The last thing it needs is human intervention."

Deer are a common example. A fawn that stumbles about weakly while learning to walk will attract predators, so evolution has provided effective methods of protection. Newborn fawns are naturally well camouflaged, don't emit odors that attract predators and can lie very still for a long time. As a result, they are actually safer if their mothers leave them on their own. Even a curious person watching the fawn from a distance could alert predators to the animal's presence and prevent its mother from returning.

But in the rare case that the young animal's mother has been hurt or killed there are some steps you can take to protect its orphaned offspring. If the mother of a young animal does not return for more than twelve hours, or it is obvious that it has been hurt or killed, it's best to report its location to the Division of Wildlife.

"People who pick up animals risk injuring the animal or making it too comfortable with humans to be returned to the wild," added Romero. "By leaving the animal alone and reporting its location to the Division of Wildlife, our trained personnel or volunteers can respond and make the determination about what is best for the animal."

Many orphaned animals are taken to licensed wildlife rehabilitators who work hard to make sure the animal can be reintroduced to the wild. However, even rehabilitation has risks, with only a minority of rehabilitated animals being able to return to a full life in the wild. In some cases, it may be better for young animals to fend for themselves in their natural habitat.

"Every case is different, so it's best to let trained wildlife staff and volunteers respond and make a determination," Romero said. "Once a human intervenes, the choices for the animal's future become more limited."

People are cautioned to avoid "rescuing" the animal themselves or trying to keep it as a pet, which in most cases is illegal. Even the best efforts to rehabilitate an injured or orphaned animal by an unqualified person can instead lead to negative consequences, such as poor nutrition, stress and behavioral problems. Young animals will often "imprint" on caregivers early in life, normally their mothers. Even if a person successfully nurses a baby animal, the young animal may learn to become comfortable around humans, which makes it necessary for the animal to remain in captivity. Associating with humans will also prevent the young animal from learning the skills it needs to survive on its own. A wild animal held in captivity by an unqualified caretaker can also present a public safety risk as it can bite or attack its caretaker or others.

Because dogs will explore off -trail areas and search for smells and movement, people often encounter baby animals while walking their dogs. If they are allowed to run loose, dogs can present a serious danger to all wildlife. Domesticated dogs quickly revert to their predatory instincts and will often chase and severely injure or kill young wildlife and their parents. By statute in Colorado, law enforcement officers are authorized to immediately euthanize any dog observed harassing wildlife, and dog owners can receive a hefty fine. Division officials strongly recommend that people keep their dogs on a leash. It will keep the dog safe, and prevents injuries or death of wildlife.

Another common sight in spring is young birds that have accidently fallen out of their nests due to high winds, or while learning to fly. Most of us have heard the "old-wives' tale" about how a mother bird will abandon its young if it has been touched by a human, however the myth has no scientific basis and every effort to return the fledgling to its nest is a worthy endeavor if it can be done safely.

If you find a young bird on the ground and it is unable to fly on its own, don't attempt to nourish it. Instead, immediately try to return it to its nest. A bird's natural diet is difficult to duplicate and an attempt to feed it or give it water can cause it harm.

If you cannot safely reach the original nest, just placing it in a safe location near the nest will yield good results. The parents will hear its cries and will continue feeding the young bird. Put it in a small basket or box filled with paper towels or even dryer lint. Using grass to make a nest is not recommended because the moisture content in the grass can lower the body temperature of the bird.

Cats, being natural predators, are another serious threat to young birds and other small animals. Although hunting and killing is natural behavior for a cat, a responsible owner will limit a cat's ability to destroy wild creatures.

"If your cat is used to being outdoors and there is little chance of it becoming an indoor pet, just place a small bell on its collar. This may be an effective method of keeping baby birds and other small animals safe," advised Romero.

The Division reminds everyone that evolution has given all animals effective instincts when it comes to rearing their young and it's best to just let nature take its course. If you see a young animal that appears orphaned, keep your distance, don't feed and don't help. In most cases, not doing anything is the most responsible way humans can show their love for wild creatures.

For more information on living with wildlife and laws concerning exotic pets, please see the following articles:
A Case For Not Domesticating Our Wildlife
Exotic Pets and Prohibited Wildlife
Exotic Pets and Prohibited Wildlife 2

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Footed Ferret Rediscovery

High up on the mountain between the exhibits of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Will Roger’s Shrine of the Sun, lies a quiet building that very few have a chance to see. This building is closed to guests for several reasons, the main one being that the animals inside are very prone to stress. This means that they do not tolerate noise well and are sensitive to many common diseases. They are also possible candidates for release to the wild and need maintain a healthy fear of humans. The residents inside are endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) or BFFs for short. They were thought to have been extinct twice in their natural history and if it wasn’t for a rancher in Meeteetse, Wyoming and his dog named Shep, they might actually be extinct today.

2011 is a very exciting year as it marks the 30th anniversary of the rediscovery of one of the last wild black footed-ferret populations. The official date of rediscovery was September 26th, 1981. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has been involved with the recovery of this species since 1990. As part of the 30th anniversary celebration, we are going to make frequent BFF postings on our blog. Readers can follow along as we gear up for the beginning of the breeding season and see what exactly goes on in an intensive endangered species breeding and reintroduction program.

First, let’s start with some background information. The black-footed ferrets are nocturnal predators that live a solitary life as an adult. They are the only ferret native to the Americas and once lived throughout the Great Plains from Saskatchewan, Canada to Northern Mexico. They are a member of the Mustelidae family which includes otters, badgers, mink and weasels. The BFF is a specialist; it relies almost entirely on prairie dogs for food as well as their burrows for shelter. From nose to tail tip they are 18-24 inches long and can weigh up to two-and-a-half pounds. Natural predators of the BFF are owls, hawks, eagles, coyotes, and badgers.

Learn more about the black-footed ferret and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's conservation efforts on our website.